Drives wont stop "sleeping"...

[CraFX]

Problem: Cant stop drives from "sleeping". It seems like every time I leave an App or Game, I have to wait 5-10 secs while a drive spins up.

System Info: Compaq Deskpro (P3 1 Gig, with 256 MB running XP (2600 no activate SP1).

IDE devices Mainboard: Pri=WD 40 GB & Sec=IBM 27 GB Deskstar

SIIG Ultra ATA 66: Pri= NEC CDRW & Sec= NEC CD

I've been in BIOS and Control panel and ALL power saving is off. I have mode options for the WD40 in BIOS for either performance or quiet. I chose performance, but for the IBM the options were PIO or Ultra DMA, I chose Ultra.

THx in advance,
®©

[Godfodda]

Is this a self-built system or a boxed unit?

If self-built, did you click the DMA checkbox for the drives in the Device Manager? I know CDROM drive have to spin up, but I've never known of a HD doing it except at startup; that's why I'm asking about the DMA.

[RangerJoe]

had the same problem, its the power supplys fault...your computer doesnt have enough power to run, and keep the hdd's "awake" at the same time, so when you close a program, theres enough power for the hdd's and they "wake up"......so i say get a bigger psu

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by RangerJoe
had the same problem, its the power supplys fault...your computer doesnt have enough power to run, and keep the hdd's "awake" at the same time, so when you close a program, theres enough power for the hdd's and they "wake up"......so i say get a bigger psu

Very interesting, Ranger. First time I've heard of anything like that. Looks like something to watch out for.

[CraFX]

I'll try another ps then, makes sense.

TY Godfodda (cool .gif :) and RangerJoe!

CraFX

[MadMan007]

I am not sure how to do it in XP, but I know in Win9x, if you go to --> Control panel -->Power Management; you can set the length of inactivity time until the HDD powers down. Yours is probably set very short, so your HD powers down within a few minutes.

In XP you should be able to do this through the Power Settings as well, but I am not sure...anyone know how to do this in XP?

[Gnufsh]

My school has three microns that do the same thing. I just set them to never go to sleep.

-Dan